Automotive accessory fabric

ABSTRACT

The present application relates to an automotive accessory fabric. The fabric includes an inner layer and an outer layer adjacent the inner layer. The stitching defines a visible pattern on the outer layer. The pattern includes pattern elements with each pattern element having lines extending in at least three directions. Advantageously, the lines extending in at least three directions may provide increased visual contrast when compared with elements having stitching lines extending less than three directions. Accordingly, an automotive tent incorporating the fabric may be more easily located at night when a camper discerns the visual contrast by firelight or torchlight.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to AU 2019903814, filed Oct. 10, 2019, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an automotive accessory fabric. The present invention has particular, although not exclusive application to automotive accessories including automotive tents and automotive awnings.

BACKGROUND

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Automotive roof tents are fitted to four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles when camping.

In practice, the tents are erected in remote areas with low lighting conditions. It can often be difficult for campers to locate tents in the dark when wandering about at night.

The preferred embodiment provides for improved locating of automotive tents at night.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automotive accessory fabric including:

an inner layer;

an outer layer adjacent the inner layer; and

stitching defining a visible pattern on the outer layer, the pattern including pattern elements with each pattern element having lines extending in at least three directions.

Advantageously, the lines extending in at least three directions may provide increased visual contrast when compared with elements having stitching lines extending less than three directions. Accordingly, an automotive tent incorporating the fabric may be more easily located at night when a camper discerns the visual contrast by firelight or torchlight.

The stitching may shimmer or be reflective, and/or have a shiny or satin finish. The pattern may be superimposed on the outer layer. The pattern may be a hexagonal pattern with each element being a hexagon. The stitching may be a ripstop stitching to impede or contain ripping of the fabric.

The inner layer may be an adhesive or bonded coating applied to the outer layer. The inner layer may be waterproof. The inner layer may be silver. The inner layer may be reflective. The inner layer may be heat reflective. The inner layer may be UV reflective, preferably with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50+.

The inner layer may be light reflective inside the accessory to provide passive illumination when reflecting light sources. The inner layer may be light reflective through the outer layer. The outer layer may diffuse light reflected from the inner layer.

The outer layer may include a sheet. The outer layer may be waterproof. The sheet may include a polymer. The polymer may include polyester. The polyester may be 300D polyester. The outer layer may have a matte finish. The inner layer may be more reflective than the outer layer.

The fabric may be chemically treated to be fire retardant, preferably to comply with US standard CPAI84. The fabric may be fungal treated to impede fungal growth. The fabric may be lightweight, preferably less than about 200 GSM.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automotive accessory including the automotive accessory fabric. The automotive accessory may include an automotive awning or an automotive tent.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing automotive accessory fabric, the method including:

applying an inner layer to an adjacent outer layer; and

stitching a visible pattern to the outer layer, the pattern including pattern elements with each pattern element having lines extending in at least three directions.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided automotive accessory fabric including:

an inner heat and light reflective layer;

an outer layer adjacent the inner layer; and

stitching defining a visible pattern on the outer layer.

Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a figure as follows:

FIG. 1 shows automotive accessory fabric in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an automotive accessory fabric 100 as shown in FIG. 1. The fabric 100 includes an inner reflective layer 102, and an outer layer 104 adjacent the inner layer 102. Further, the fabric 100 includes shimmering stitching 106 defining a visible pattern on the outer layer 104. The pattern includes hexagonal pattern elements, each element having straight lines extending in three directions (i.e. three sets of parallel lines, with each set extending in a different direction).

Advantageously, the lines extending in three directions provide increased visual contrast when compared with elements having stitching lines extending in less than three directions (e.g. a rectangular pattern). Accordingly, an automotive accessory (e.g. roof tent) incorporating the fabric 100 can be more easily located at night when a camper discerns the improved visual contrast shimmering by firelight or torchlight among the shadows.

The shimmering stitching 106 is reflective and has a satin finish. The hexagonal pattern is superimposed on the outer layer 106 for maximum effect. The hexagonal stitching 106 is a ripstop stitching to impede or contain ripping of the fabric 100.

The inner layer 102 is an adhesive or bonded coating applied to the outer layer 104. The inner layer 102 is waterproof, and is silver so as to be reflective. The inner layer 102 is also heat reflective providing a thermal barrier. Further, the inner layer 102 is UV reflective with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50+ to protect campers under the fabric 100 from the sun.

The inner layer 102 is light reflective inside the accessory to provide power-saving passive illumination when reflecting low-power light sources such as LED strips, battery powered torches and gas lamps, and to advantageously facilitate spotting of tripping hazards (e.g. pegs, guy ropes, etc.).

The outer layer 104 includes a grey fabric sheet and is waterproof. The sheet is formed from 300D polyester Oxform yarn, or similar polymer, and has a matte finish. The inner layer 102 is light reflective back through the outer layer 104, when the sun is incident on the outer layer 104. The outer layer 104 diffuses direct sunlight reflected from the inner layer 102 so as to not interfere with camper's vision during the day. The inner layer 102 of the fabric 100 is more reflective than the outer layer 104 of the fabric 100.

The fabric 100 is chemically treated to be fire retardant so as to self-extinguish if it catches alight and contain flames, preferably to comply with US standard CPAI84. The fabric 100 is also fungal treated to impede fungal growth inherent when folding damp fabric. The fabric 100 is advantageously lightweight, and weighs about 200 grams per square meter (GSM) or less.

The automotive accessory fabric 100 is manufactured as follows.

The manufacturing method involves applying the inner layer 102 to the adjacent outer layer 104.

The method further involves stitching the visible pattern 106 to the outer layer 104.

The foregoing steps of applying and stitching can be performed in either order.

The fabric 100 is then chemically treated with fire retardant and fungicide.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

The stitching may be formed from a polymer (300D polyester Oxform yarn), or other like yarn with a shiny finish.

In one embodiment, the sheet of the outer layer 104 is formed from polyester-cotton canvas.

The outer layer 104 may be colours other than than grey.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations. 

1. An automotive accessory fabric including: an inner layer; an outer layer adjacent the inner layer; and stitching defining a visible pattern on the outer layer, the pattern including pattern elements with each pattern element having lines extending in at least three directions.
 2. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lines extend in at least three directions to provide increased visual contrast when compared with elements having stitching lines extending in less than three directions.
 3. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fabric can be easily located at night when a camper discerns the visual contrast by firelight or torchlight.
 4. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stitching shimmers or is reflective, and/or has a shiny or satin finish.
 5. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pattern is superimposed on the outer layer.
 6. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pattern is a hexagonal pattern with each element being a hexagon.
 7. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stitching is a ripstop stitching to impede or contain ripping of the fabric.
 8. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is an adhesive or bonded coating applied to the outer layer.
 9. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is and one or more of waterproof, silver, reflective, heat reflective and UV reflective, preferably with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50+.
 10. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is light reflective inside the accessory to provide passive illumination when reflecting light sources.
 11. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is light reflective through the outer layer.
 12. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 11, wherein the outer layer diffuses light reflected from the inner layer.
 13. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer layer includes a sheet.
 14. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sheet includes a polymer, in turn, including polyester such as 300D polyester.
 15. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer layer is waterproof or has a matte finish.
 16. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is more light reflective than the outer layer.
 17. An automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fabric is chemically treated to be fire retardant, fungal treated to impede fungal growth and/or lightweight, preferably less than about 200 GSM.
 18. An automotive accessory including the automotive accessory fabric as claimed in claim 1, the automotive accessory including an automotive awning or an automotive tent.
 19. A method of manufacturing automotive accessory fabric, the method including: applying an inner layer to an adjacent outer layer; and stitching a visible pattern to the outer layer, the pattern including pattern elements with each pattern element having lines extending in at least three directions.
 20. Automotive accessory fabric including: an inner heat and light reflective layer; an outer layer adjacent the inner layer; and stitching defining a visible pattern on the outer layer. 